MISSION STATEMENT

The Accountancy faculty strongly supports the University of Central Missouri’s mission to transform students into lifelong learners, dedicated to service, with the knowledge, skills and confidence to succeed and lead in the region, state, nation and world.

Accountancy Program
Mission Statement

The faculty and staff of the Accountancy Program are committed to providing a student-focused,
applied accounting education leading to professional success.

Accountancy Program Tenets

The faculty of the Accountancy Program (AP) further affirms the following:

Scholarship
Our scholarship informs our profession and the education we provide to students.

Engagement
Our engagement in service to the institution, profession and community is a model
for students as they progress through the learning process and become working professionals.

Students
Our students should develop and exhibit personal responsibilities and behaviors consistent
with expectations of future accounting professionals

Mission Distinctions

UCM’s profile is one of a fairly typical, Higher Learning Commission- accredited, state-supported, regional institution. The AP’s mission reflects values consistent with institutions of this profile with its emphasis on a student-focused collegiate experience resulting in an education equipping its students for professional and career success. The unique and distinctive aspects of the AP’s mission are understood by examining the AP’s supporting mission tenets.

100% of the AP’s full-time researching faculty are producing intellectual contributions that support the teaching and applied education aspects of the mission. Additionally 100% of the researching faculty incorporate their research findings into the classroom experience.

2. Engagement: Our engagement in service to the institution, profession and community is a model for students as they progress through the learning process and become working professionals.

The faculty members of the AP are meaningfully engaged in service at all levels of the institution, in the profession- most notably through Beta Alpha Psi and the Missouri Society of CPA’s, as well as in various community involvements. As 4 of the 6 full-time accountancy faculty serve as student organization advisors many have numerous contact hours outside of class that allow for relationship building and mentoring. All accountancy students, irrespective of membership in a student organization, enjoy considerable access to faculty outside of class - which is a strength and distinction of the AP as noted by students in a recent focus session.

3. Students: Our students should develop and exhibit personal responsibilities and behaviors consistent with expectations of future accounting professionals.

Students in UCM’s accountancy program have professional learning opportunities through our internship program (fully supported by HCBPS full-time staff), VITA program, the AP’s recently initiated professional mentor/student mentee program, and through annual networking events with the Advisory Board. Employers value the preparedness of our students as evidenced by growing participation in the “Meet the Firms” event and the increased number of strategic recruiting alliances requested by area firms. The Big 4 firms of KPMG and Deloitte include UCM on their short lists of schools visited for recruiting of entry level tax professionals. A willingness to serve and extend service terms on the 20 plus member Advisory Board also indicates professionals’ high regard for the program. Student satisfaction with professional preparedness is supported by focus event comments that students recommend UCM’s accountancy program to others.

Thus, the AP’s mission’s distinction centers on its opportunities for students to engage in the classroom and outside of it through learning opportunities with faculty, with peers, and with professionals. The ability to successfully achieve this mission is bolstered by three distinctive environmental factors:

a) The university offers a supportive blueprint for the AP’s mission through its broad campaign to foster student success- “Learning to a Greater Degree”. The AP’s mission features aligns well with this university campaign and its focus on engaged learning, future-focused academics, worldly perspective, and culture of service.

b) The university is committed to maintaining affordability for students to attend. Tuition increases in past years have lagged inflationary indexes and are smaller than those instituted by many institutions of higher learning in the state of Missouri.

c) The advantageous location of UCM with its proximity to the Kansas City metro area allows easy access to professionals, internship opportunities, and full-time post-graduation career placements.